Astaxanthin – The Antioxidant Extraordinaire

Astaxanthin – ‘the radical defender’

Welcome to Wellwise’s special section on astaxanthin, the ‘radical defender' – we call it the radical defender because of its unequaled ability to scavenge free radicals in the body. In this section you will find a storehouse of information about this remarkable antioxidant, and the many ways in which astaxanthin may benefit your health.

You can begin your journey of discovery here by clicking on any of the links below, or use the navigation bar at the top of each page to pursue your particular interest.

First we explore:

• The ways in which astaxanthin is grown – Haematococcus pluvialis, the algae that produces the most astaxanthin is cultivated in both closed and open environments

• Astaxanthin’s role in nature – which includes slowing the process of oxidation in animals’ bodies and protecting them from UV light damage

• Skin health – Astaxanthin has been shown to protect the skin from UV damage that would otherwise damage skin DNA, and do so even better than other carotenoids such as beta-carotene and lutein

As with most dietary supplements and drugs, people are concerned with side effects. We examine

• Astaxanthin dangers – There have been at least eight clinical studies using more than 180 humans using astaxanthin to assess its safety, bioavailability and clinical aspects relevant to oxidative stress, inflammation or the cardiovascular system. No adverse outcomes have been reported.

• Recommended astaxanthin dosage – Various human clinical studies have safely used a very wide range of astaxanthin doses for as long as a year

Coming soon: Astaxanthin is a carotenoid. We compare astaxanthin vs carotenoids from other sources.